Henlopen Acres officials budget for $1 million in revenue
Henlopen Acres commissioners recently passed a budget for the upcoming fiscal year, and for the first time in town history, the revenue portion of its operating budget is expected to surpass $1 million.
The town’s budget runs from July 1 to June 30. Commissioners approved the budget during a June 11 meeting, and the expected revenue is approximately $1.02 million, while expected expenses are roughly $981,000.
Commissioner Jeff Jacobs, who serves as board treasurer, presented commissioners with an operating budget that had a deficit of close to $12,000. Commissioners discussed multiple options for balancing the budget, but ultimately they agreed to increase property taxes from $2.62 per $100 of assessed value to $2.94 per $100. The property tax increase will generate an additional $42,000 in revenue. The increase is the first since 2012 and, on average, will increase the property tax approximately $200 per parcel.
In an email June 23, Mayor Joni Reich said the property tax increase allows the town to pay valued staff and to maintain the town in the quality manner that residents expect.
For at least the second year in a row, the town also increased marina slip fees – for boats up to 22 feet in length, the fee is going from $1,725 to $2,100; for boats between 22 and 26 feet, the fee rises from $2,025 to $2,425; and for boats longer than 26 feet, it rises from $2,325 to $2,800.
Reich said the fees were adjusted in light of rates charged at other local marinas and to reflect the higher ongoing dredging maintenance costs the town will be incurring.
Salaries for staff increased approximately $59,000, and commissioners also agreed to add $4,500 to the tree budget for a new tree assessment service. Reich said the budget figure assumes 50 owners will take advantage of the $90 service over the course of the year.
“We have had a number of residents already contact us to request it, and we think it will help raise awareness among owners of the health of their trees and any needed maintenance they should be taking,” said Reich.
The water usage fee was increased $35, to $475 for each household per year.
Capital improvements slated for the upcoming year include dredging the marina in the fall, replacing major equipment at the water plant, road resurfacing and assessing the viability of installing fire hydrants throughout the town.
Chris Flood has been working for the Cape Gazette since early 2014. He currently covers Rehoboth Beach and Henlopen Acres, but has also covered Dewey Beach and the state government. He covers environmental stories, business stories and random stories on subjects he finds interesting, and he also writes a column called Choppin’ Wood that runs every other week. He’s a graduate of the University of Maine and the Landing School of Boat Building & Design.
